SKILL AND ACTIVITY PROGRESSION
back to index

GRADE

SKILLS	5		6	7	8	ACTIVITY PROGRESSION
Grip	I		R	M	A	Movement Without the Puck
Stick handling: faking and dodging	I		R	M	A	Shadow Drills
Dribbling	I		R	M	A
Passing	I		R	M	A	Passing and Receiving Warm Up
Receiving	I		R	M	A	Give and Go
Individual offense	I		R	M	M	Zone Hockey
Individual defense	I		R	M	A	Modified Floor Hockey
Transition: offense to defense	I	R		M	M	Corner Hockey
Shooting	I		R	M	M	Goalie Warm Up
Goalie skills	I		R	M	A	Goalie Hockey

I = INTRODUCE / R = REVIEW / M = MASTER / A = APPLY / O = OPTIONAL

ACTIVITIES FOR PRACTICING GRIP, STICK HANDLING, DRIBBLING, PASSING, RECEIVING AND INDIVIDUAL OFFENSE:

MOVEMENT WITHOUT THE PUCK: Each player has a stick. Players spread out with an equal amount of space between them. Players are shown how to hold the top of the stick with their non-dominant hand. They are instructed to move through space keeping the blade of the stick on the floor. There is no contact allowed between players or sticks. Players are instructed to place their dominant hand about half way down the shaft. They are instructed to move again in a similar manner. Players can then be instructed in stick handling, dribbling, passing and receiving. On command, students practice all of the above skills (without a puck) while moving through space. They are instructed to move through space changing direction and speed and executing skills as

they would in a game. Students are periodically reminded that they must keep the

blade of the stick on the floor and avoid any contact at all times.

SHADOW DRILLS: Players spread out with 10’-15’ between the players. One or two students may be chosen to help demonstrate. The teacher and demonstrators are in the front of the gym facing the players. Players are reminded to keep the stick on the floor. They are instructed to "shadow" the teacher by doing everything he/she does. The players are verbally instructed while they "shadow" the following progression of movements:

1. Proper grip, stick handling, dribbling, ground passing and receiving.
2. Proper movement through space changing speed and direction while following instructions to dribble and ground pass as they would in a game. Players must avoid contact with other players at all times.

GIVE AND GO: Each player pairs up with a partner. Sets of partners are divided into 4 equal groups. Each group of partners makes a line 30’ from one of the goals. Each group starts out going to a different goal. The puck must remain on the floor and the blade of the stick below the knees. All players must refrain from contact with all other players and all other sticks and pucks. The first set of partners in each line begins "give and go" passing. This involves player A1 passing the puck on the floor to A2 as A2 moves toward the goal. A2 receives the puck and returns a pass to A1 who is also moving toward the goal. A1 and A2 continue in similar manner. When they get 10’-15’ from the goal A1 or A2 takes a controlled shot on goal, keeping the puck on the ground and the blade of the stick below the knees. Only 1 shot can be taken at each goal. If A1 shoots at the first goal, then A2 takes the shot on the next goal. A1 and A2 continue in the same manner taking turns stick handling, dribbling, passing, receiving and shooting. They move in a clockwise direction from goal to goal. (See Give and Go activity in the Activity Booklet.)

ACTIVITIES FOR PRACTICING ALL OF THE ABOVE SKILLS:

ZONE HOCKEY: This game is similar to regular floor hockey. All safety rules for regular floor hockey apply. An equal number of players are assigned to each zone. Lines or cones designate zones. There are 3 zones for each team (goalies, defenders and forwards). A maximum of 4 players are assigned to each zone for each

team. Players must stay in their zones until they are told to rotate. Players may

intercept passes coming into their zones. Play is begun by dropping an equal number

of pucks for each team in their zones. The number of students and ability level of each class determines the number of pucks used. The game must be played safely at all times following all the rules for regular floor hockey. At the end of a designated period of time all players are told to stop and rotate to the next zone. The time for each period should be determined by the amount of class time available to allow players to have equal time in each zone. Goalies rotate to defenders, defenders rotate to forwards and forwards rotate to goalies. Play is then resumed in the same manner. (See the Zone Hockey activity in the Activity Booklet.)

MODIFIED FLOOR HOCKEY: This game is similar to the floor hockey played in the Special Olympics. It is played with a "special" puck and stick. All safety rules for regular floor hockey apply. The game begins with all the players in their positions. The "special" puck is placed in the center circle. The centers (A1 and B1) from each team "face off". A1 and B1 have to keep their bodies and their "special" sticks out of the circle until the whistle is blown. When the whistle is blown A1 and B1 try to pass the puck to a teammate. They are not allowed to take the puck out of the circle. They must pass the puck out of the circle. The players may hit the puck with their stick or gain control by placing their stick in the center of the puck. They then move with the puck by sliding it along the floor. Players may dribble, pass or shoot the puck by pushing it with their stick or by placing their stick in the center of the puck and sliding it along the floor. They may keep their stick in the puck, move and advance the puck and release it at any time to pass or to shoot. If two opposing players hold the puck for more than 5 seconds, a face off is awarded in the circle closest to the play. Each face off is the same as the face off for the beginning of the game. Play continues as in regular floor hockey.

CORNER HOCKEY: This game is similar to regular floor hockey. All safety rules for regular floor hockey apply.

1. The stick must stay below the waist at all times.
2. The puck must stay on the floor in the defensive half of the court. The puck may be lifted up to waist high only when shooting on goal on the offensive half of the court.
3. Goals can be scored only from the offensive half of the court.
4. Goalies can release the puck only as far as the half court line at a height below the waist.
5. Corner players must stay behind the goal line on their defensive end but are still part of the game. They may move freely behind the goal following all of the regular rules.
6. The puck may be blocked by the body or caught by the hand. The puck cannot be advanced by anything but the stick.
7. The game must be played safely at all times. Play should be similar to soccer, using the stick on the puck only. No dangerous play is allowed. There is no contact between the players, including the goalies.
(3) FLOOR HOCKEY  
8. Players are rotated equally through the 5 floor positions (center, right and left wing,

through the playing time.

ACTIVITIES FOR PRACTICING SHOOTING AND GOALIE SKILLS:

GOALIE WARM – UP: Goalie G1 must have all the goalie equipment on. G1 chooses two players (P1 and P2) to help him/her warm up. G1 moves into the goal. P1 and P2 take turns retrieving pucks and taking shots on G1. G1 can direct P1 and P2 on the types of shots needed to be taken in order to give G1 a complete warm-up for a game. P1 and P2 must be careful to direct all of their shots safely at G1, avoiding all contact with all other players. All safety rules for floor hockey apply.

GOALIE HOCKEY: Each goalie is assigned a goal. Goals are equally spaced around the perimeter of a small playing area (10’-15’ square). The object of the game is for each goalie to protect his/her own goal and try to score on any other goal. Each goalie has the opportunity to practice positioning, blocking, receiving and clearing pucks under game like conditions. Goalies also can enjoy trying to score on other goalies as they are clearing pucks that have been shot at them.